Olivia twisted and turned in her sleep to the point that it woke up Fitz. He sat up and turned on the night lamp and noticed she was having cold sweats. He nudged her arm, trying to wake her.
"Livvie, wake up, you're having a nightmare again."
She was still asleep when she began screaming and clawing at her skin.
"Livvie, come on, wake up."
He nudged her again and this time she jumped out of her sleep.
"-What's going on, where am I?"
"You're with me, you're okay, you were having a nightmare."
He used to blanket to wipe the cold sweat from her forehead.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She took a deep breath, "yeah."
Olivia leaned back on the pillow and rub her 37 weeks pregnant stomach, it was huge. Fitz gave her a moment to calm down.
"Where were you this time?"
"Iran, again."
He wrapped her in a hug and kissed her. "I'm sorry baby, this is the third one this week, is there a reason?"
"No, I mean- I feel fine, I haven't had one for months and now- that's weird."
"Yeah, are you sure there's nothing, no trigger? The nightmares stopped for a long time and now all of a sudden they're back three nights in a row."
"No, I guess it could just be that I'm nervous about giving birth," she said as she rubbed her stomach, "our little tike is almost here and he's going to give my vagina hell."
Fitz chuckled and rubbed her stomach gently, "yes he is."
"Our little Luca."
"I thought we were going with Noah, you loved Noah."
Olivia bit her lip and smiled, "I know but this so much better, it's Italian."
Fitz chuckled, "this is a great debate... for tomorrow. I'm exhausted but I can't sleep until you sleep."
She reached over and looked at the time.
"It's 4 in the morning, I'm not going back to sleep, you know that," she said as she sat up.
"No, no, no, you have to sleep," Fitz said, sitting up as well, "we have that campaign thing later, please."
"Go to sleep, I'm gonna walk around the halls like a ghost, you know how I do.."
Fitz chuckled, "it's not funny, just lay in bed with me."
"Fine," Olivia relented, "I'll lay here, go back to sleep."
Fitz smiled and kissed her, she leaned back on the bed and allowed him to cuddle her and minutes later he was fast asleep and once she was sure he was deep in sleep she got up and went to her closest for a coat then grabbed her phone and headphones and stopped by the kitchen for some chips then made her way outside to walk around in the rose garden as she listened to music and ate her chips.
It was early October, and slightly chilly outside but the air did her some good and it wasn't until the sun began to rise that she decided to go back inside.
When Olivia walked into the bedroom, Fitz was sitting up in the bed.
"Morning,"she said with a smile as she pulled off her coat and sat on the bed.
"Not funny, I was just about to come look for you."
"You know I always do this, I don't know why you worry."
Fitz stood up and stretched, "I'm gonna shower, wanna join me?"
"Yes, I guess," she teased.
He walked over to her side of the bed and swept her up in his arms.
"Put me down," she protested, laughing as he carried her to the bathroom.
He put her down once they reached the bathroom and then turned on the faucet in the shower. As Fitz gauged the water, Olivia stood in front of the mirror and undressed. When Fitz set the water he walked back over to Olivia and began undressing as well.
Olivia stood watching him delightfully and once he was naked she stepped in front of him and wrapped her arms around his waist then reached up and kissed him on the lips.
"Do you want a blowjob?"
Fitz smiled, "what is what? A trick question? I'm not gonna say no."
She held unto his hands, "help me down, I'm fat."
He laughed, "stop it, you're not."
Fitz helped her down on the ground and then he leaned back against the wall.
She began stroking him, twisting and swiveling up and down his shaft. She looked up at Fitz who was looking down at her and smirked then she kissed his tip and blew on it.
"Woah."
"You like that?" she teased.
Fitz laughed, "you are such a little tease."
She licked his tip.
"Sweet god, here we go."
"Stop acting like you're dying," she laughed.
"What, it's been a 2 weeks. I'm excited."
"Yes, I'm 8 months pregnant, I can't blow you everyday, I'm way too tired."
"I'm not complaining. I promise."
She licked it tip again and he chuckled which made her laugh.
"Fitz-"
"No, no, no, ignore me, that wasn't on purpose."
Olivia pulled back and covered her mouth before she broke into a laugh.
"What?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, it's just-you're so dramatic."
"I'm not dramatic-"
He was cut of by her warm tongue on his tip again.
"Lordy-"
Olivia stopped and stood up, "that's it, blowjob cancelled."
Fitz wrapped his arms around and held her, "no, I'll behave, I promise."
She smiled and got down again. This time when she spat on his tip and licked him, he didn't make a sound. She giggled and continued, alternating between licking and sucking him and then she made him finish on her breast.
Once he caught his breath he helped her up off the floor.
"Are you good now, will you survive another day?" Olivia asked, jokingly.
"I think I might," he quipped.
Olivia rolled her eyes and walked into the shower, Fitz joined her moments later and then they showered together, brushed their teeth and then got dressed for Fitz campaign event in Virginia.
After his stump speech at the rally, they gathered in the arena cafeteria for a press lunch. Fitz was in the middle of an interview, when he heard cross taking in the room and wondered what the excitement was about. He turned around and saw Olivia by the buffet table, she didn't notice everyone staring at her as she bopped her head side to side, dancing as she walk around the table grabbing food for her second plate.
Everyone started laughing and that when she looked up and realized that everyone was staring at her, including Fitz who had a huge grin on his face.
"Are those two plates for you?" he asked, teasing.
"What? I'm pregnant, I deserve two!"
He laughed and walked over to her by the buffet and kissed her temple, "you're the best."
She smiled, "yeah, I know."
Later that night, all the late night comedy show went wall to wall with the footage of Olivia dancing as she fixed her plate. She laid in bed beside Fitz, watching the tv.
"I don't think it's that funny," she said as she placed another potato chip in her mouth.
Fitz continued the massage her feet with oil, pressing his thumbs against the instep of her foot in a circular motion.
"It's because you look so happy about the food, it's hilarious."
She smiled, "I like food. Food makes me happy."
"My penis supposedly makes you happy and you've never danced like that for it. I don't know what food does to you."
She chuckled and rolled her eyes, "I've danced for your penis before, so many times."
"Yeah, when?"
"When it's inside me, my vagina dances up and down and all around it."
He laughed, "stop it, I'm gonna get hard."
"Oh really?"
She leaned up slowly and felt his crotch.
"Someone's getting a semi-"
She dug her hand in his underpants and pulled him in between her legs as he laughed and leaned on top of her.
Olivia pulled up her silk nightgown, "help me take my underwear off."
He eased her up slightly and pulled off her underwear then he pulled off his underpants.
"Feel it," she grabbed his hand and ran it in between her legs.
"Sweet jesus," he said as he ran slid his fingers inside her, feeling how wet she was.
"Don't start Fitz-" she giggled.
He chuckled and leaned over her, kissing her slowly as he slipped his penis inside her.
"I won't," he responded.
She held her breast to stop them from bouncing up and down with every thrust. They were sensitive in the waning months of pregnancy.
Fitz held her legs open as he thrusted.
"Fitz-" she moaned, "I want it from behind-"
He stopped and slowly turned her over on all fours and then kneeled behind her, entering her again. It only took them minutes to come to an orgasm. Olivia was the first to plop down on the bed, Fitz dropped behind her and pulled the comforter over them both. He wrapped his arms around her stomach and kissed her shoulder.
"That was delicious," she said with a giggle.
He kissed her shoulder again and chuckled.
"Now- I don't know if you saw this but first lady Olivia Pope was at a campaign lunch today with the president and there's this video, it's hilarious and I want you to take a look at it."
Olivia reached over and grabbed the remote and turned off the tv.
"Annoying," she said with a shrug.
"You mean, hilarious."
She slapped him on the leg, "shut up."
"Alright, alright."
He snuggled closer to her and hugged her tighter, "I love you so much."
She smiled, "I love you too, now go to bed, we have an annoying busy day tomorrow."
"Isn't everyday annoyingly busy."
"Well...yeah," she said with a smile.
They laid, silently cuddling until they both drifted to sleep.
Fitz woke up in the middle of the night, frantic, searching for Olivia.
"Liv?" he called. She wasn't on the bed, nor was she in the bedroom.
He stood up and put on his underpants to go search for her just to have her walk into the bedroom as he was getting dressed. She had a bag of popcorn in one hand and potato chip in the other.
"Wha happened?" she asked as she ate.
"I was looking for you, I had a weird nightmare and-whatever, where were you?"
"I was in the kitchen and then I went to Luca's nursery to refold his little onesies for the thousandth time then I heard you call me."
"Why are you up?"
"I had a nightmare too, couldn't go back to sleep."
"What was it about?" Fitz asked.
Olivia walked over to the bed and sat down.
"Same thing I always have nightmare about. What did you dream about?"
Fitz sat on the bed as well, "nothing."
"Oh come on baby, tell me," she leaned back against her pillow and leaned over and kissed him.
"Eww, you're really sweaty," she teased.
Fitz smiled and wiped his face with his hands.
"Okay, what did you dream?"
He hesitated before answering, "you."
"What about me?"
"You were hurt."
"How?"
"I don't wanna upset you, so maybe we should just forget it."
"You already opened the door, you have to tell me."
"Olivia-"
"Tell me!"
"No."
"Please."
"No."
Olivia rolled her eyes.
"Fine."
They were both silent for a while. He leaned over and checked the time on his watch, it was almost 5am.
"Can I get a kiss?" he asked.
She leaned over and kissed him. Then she rolled up her potato chip and popcorn bag and placed it on the nightstand and then the rested her head against the pillow.
"Are you going back to sleep?" he asked.
"No, I'm just gonna lay down-wait-" she paused, "he's moving."
She grabbed his hand quickly and placed it on her stomach.
Fitz ran his hands over her stomach, feeling the movement. "He's moving alot, wow, what is he doing in there, cartwheels," Fitz joked.
Olivia clapped her hands excitedly, "I can't wait to see him, I want him to be so fat and scrumptious."
"Well the doctor said he's gonna be big so have fun pushing that out."
"I really don't want to have a c-section, I think I can push him out, he's like 8 pounds now, the doctor think he'll be 9 pounds by the time I'm due."
"You still don't want an epidural?"
"No- by the way you better make sure you're nowhere further than 2 hours away the week I have to give birth because if I push this baby out and you're not beside me, I'm filing for divorce."
"Really?"
"Oh yes, I'm serious and I'm gonna marry someone else and force you to be my sidepiece because I'm still gonna want to have sex with you."
Fitz burst into laughter, "that's very specific, have you been thinking about this alot."
"Only, 4 four times in the past hour."
"What?"
"I was bored, walking around folding baby clothes and for some reason I got resentful."
He chuckled, "why?"
"I don't know, thinking about the fact that I'll have to give birth and be in pain while you get to stand there and look cute."
"I won't be standing looking cute, I'll be right by your side the entire time, holding your sweaty palms as you push and feel contractions."
She slapped his arm, "shut up, my palms won't be that sweaty."
"Olivia, you will be sweating bullets, I can promise you that, your hair is gonna be a mess, you're gonna look crazy and you know what? You won't even care."
She chuckled, "I've helped women give birth before, I know the drill."
He snuggled close to her and kissed her stomach, "come on Luca, if you got here a little early, I wouldn't complain."
"Aww, you called him Luca, I told you it works and no- do not encourage him to come early, he's gonna come when he's good and ready."
"What if a girl comes instead, that happens all the time you know."
"No, I've seen his little pee pee, it's a boy."
"Pee pee?"
"Yeah."
He smiled and shook his head.
They laid in bed, bantering back and forth until the sun rose and it was time to get ready for the day. Fitz was the first to leave for the oval office to begin preparing for his bilateral meeting, Olivia met him a half hour before his meeting was set to begin. She'd been spending less time at the lab, most days she worked a half day, other days she didn't work at all. Apart from the fact that she just found it hard to physically work a full rigorous day like she used to, she spent most of her time campaigning with Fitz. When she wasn't campaigning or a the lab, she was working on theories and equations and writing notes on her computer. She was only a week away from taking her three month maternity leave which meant she wouldn't be going to the lab at all, though she did plan to continue working on her computer.
She sat in the oval, away from the press and chaos until they called her to greet the Chancellor with Fitz and after the meet and greet, she headed to the news conference in the Rose Garden.
She stood behind Fitz, with Cyrus by her side as Fitz and the Chancellor both gave their speeches and began fielding questions from the press corp.
She felt perfectly normal, until she didn't. At first, she only felt a little anxious, which wasn't unusual when she was standing in front of cameras but then she heart began racing and her breath quickened. She gently ran her hands over her stomach to calm herself.
"Am I going into labor-no that can't be it," she said to herself.
She slowly began to lose feeling in her fingertips, so she held her hands by her side and rubbed her fingers against each other. She took a deep breath and tried to keep calm then suddenly she felt a sharp pain shoot up her spine and then it abruptly went away but it left her dizzy. She swayed back and forth.
Cyrus noticed that she seemed odd, "are you okay?" he whispered. He waited for her to respond but she didn't so he shrugged and focused his attention back to Fitz.
She stood still for another 30 seconds and then she felt something warm run down her chin and brought her finger up to feel what it was. It was blood coming from her nose, dripping down her chin and on her blush pink dress. That was when members of the press and audience began gasping.
Instantaneously, the pain came, rippling through her skull as if someone was slowly cutting her head open.
Fitz heard the gasps and turned around just in time to see Olivia grabbed her head and drop to the floor. He heard loudly when her skull hit the stage and he wasn't sure if he took one step or two or if he even jumped over to her but in seconds he was beside her, on the ground holding her.
"Livie, talk to me baby, what's going on?" he said frantically.
He could visibly see that she was in pain, she was rigid and squeezing tightly onto his hand until her grip loosened and he felt her relax in his arms.
"Olivia! Olivia!" he screamed.
She was unresponsive, her eyes were open with her pupils dilated.
She was too still, Fitz checked her pulse and felt nothing.
"She's not breathing," he yelled.
"Emergency services is on the way," Cyrus said in a panic.
Unsure of what else to do, Fitz began performing cpr.
"Come on baby, breathe, you have to breathe."
He pinched her nose and blew air into her mouth then he pressed against her chest then checked his watch to time himself. His hands were shaking.
"Oh my god, this is not happening! Olivia breathe, come on baby please!"
Though there was utter chaos surrounding him, he couldn't hear any of it, all he could focus on was Olivia.
Seconds later, the sound of sirens broke through all the clamor. The emt personnel sprinted over with the stretcher.
"Oh god, oh god, oh god," he said frantically as his initial shock began to wear down and he was fully realizing the depth of the situation. He continued her chest compressions until the paramedics parked the stretcher beside the stage and hopped on the stage. Secret service had been busy clearing the stage and blocking off the press.
"Mr. President we need to take her," one paramedic said.
Fitz quickly gave them space to take her. The two men lifted her unto the stretcher and strapped her in.
"How far along is she?" the man asked quickly as he placed an oxygen mask on her face.
"37 weeks," Fitz answered quickly.
They took off with the stretcher in the direction of the ambulance that had just landed, the one they always had on standby for Fitz. Fitz followed behind them and as he was about to step into the ambulance Fitz felt someone grab his arm, it was Tom.
"Mr. president, we can't have you travelling in an unarmored vehicle. We can follow behind in the motorcade."
"Yes, you can follow behind, I'm not leaving my wife! Meet me at the hospital and make sure it's secure for her."
Fitz pulled his arm away and got into the ambulance quickly. The paramedic closed the door behind him and they sped off. Fitz stood watching as they used the defibrillator to try and resuscitate her. He could hear them on the phone with the hospital preparing the doctors for her arrival.
Fitz held onto her free hand just so she would know he was right beside her.
The paramedics were simultaneous shouting things at each other as they worked on Olivia and spoke with the hospital.
"Okay, they're prepping for a c-section stat," one of the emt workers said to the others.
"Wh-wha-a-a c-section, why, she's not due for another 3 weeks?" Fitz asked.
"She's not breathing which means the baby isn't breathing, we have to take it."
Seconds later they arrived at the hospital and parked in the ambulance bay by the back entrance. Fitz jumped out first to get out of the way so they could carry her out and once they got the stretcher out and got to the entrance a team of doctors greeted them and they rushed down the hall with her and into the triage center, leaving Fitz in the hallway.
Only a few of his agents were at the hospital, lining the halls, Tom and his main agents hadn't arrived yet.
Fitz stood in the hallway by himself, pacing anxiously, nervously, completely terrified.
"Stay calm, stay calm, she's gonna be fine." he took a deep breath and stooped down the his cell phone rang. He didn't feel like speaking with anyone but it was Gerry, who no doubt had heard what happened so he answered.
"Gerry?" he said softly.
"Dad what happened to Olivia?"
"I don't know-she-she just stopped breathing. She's with the doctors right now, I think they going to take the baby."
"What do you mean take the baby?"
"They're going to give her a c-section."
Fitz turned and saw Cyrus, Tom and a squad of more agents walking down the hall from the entrance.
"Dad, I'm leaving school, I'm trying to get there as quickly as I can."
"Okay, please hurry Gerry."
"Okay dad I'm coming."
He hung up and right then Cyrus approached him.
"Where is she?" he asked quickly.
"She-she's in surgery- do you have any idea what happened, did you see anything?" Fitz asked, searching for answers.
Cyrus pinched his nose, thinking deeply, "I don't know, I saw her sway back and forth maybe a 30 seconds before she fell, I asked her if she was alright but she didn't answer."
Fitz shook his head, "did you see anything else?"
"No, not that I could tell, we spoke before and she seemed fine."
Fitz phone rang again, it was Abby but he let it ring out. She called again, seconds later and then again.
"Fitz, you need to answer the phone."
"I can't, I don't want to talk to anyone."
Abby called again.
"Let me talk to her," it's her friend you know she want them to know what's going on," Cyrus said as he took the phone from Fitz and then answered.
"Hello?" he said.
"Who is this?" Abby said.
"It's Cyrus."
"What's happened to Olivia?"
"We don't know, she's in surgery."
"Where is the president?" Abby asked.
"He's standing here."
"Can I talk to him?"
"He doesn't want to talk?"
"Can you give him the phone please!" Abby said in a panic.
"I'm sorry," Cyrus took a few steps away from Fitz, "you have to understand Red, he's processing a lot right now, he doesn't want to talk."
"Just please please please keep me posted, I'm at work and I can't even think but I have a patient-I have to go."
"Once we find out anything I'll let you know."
Once Abby hung up, Cyrus silence the ringer on the phone and shoved it his pocket.
Fitz continued to pace slowly and chechekd his watch.
"It's been 10 minutes, what are they doing?"
"You have to be patient, I'm sure they have everything under control," Cyrus replied, trying to calm him.
"She wasn't breathing," he checked his watch again, "how long wasn't she breathing, how long did it take for us to get here?"
"It didn't take long."
"It took maybe 4 minutes, that means she wasn't breathing for four minutes and that means the baby wasn't breathing for 4 minutes."
"She's gonna be alright."
"She didn't have a pulse Cyrus, don't tell me everything's gonna be alright because it's not!" he yelled.
"Fitz you need to stay calm, if she was dead, they would've told you already. She's a fighter, she'll be alright just give them time to do their job."
Fitz took a deep breath and tried to calm down, his hands hadn't stopped shaking since he left the Rose Garden.
An hour passed, there was still no update.
"What's taking so long?" Fitz asked.
"That's a good sign, trust me."
"You think so?" he said nervously.
Two doctor burst through the triage doors. Fitz remembered them for when they received Olivia at the entrance and ran over to them quickly.
"Mr. President- first let me say your wife is okay, she's resting and your son is okay as well."
"THANK GOD," he said with a sigh of relief. "Is she awake?"
"No but your son is, we can take you to see him but we wanted to first brief you on her diagnosis-"
"Yeah- after I see them," Fitz said pointedly.
The doctor nodded and headed back through the triage door with Fitz in tow. As they walked down the hall, the doctors stopped at the third door and opened it.
When opened the door, it was as if a 1000 pound weight had been lifted off his shoulder, that's what the relief felt like. Olivia was laying against her pillows, fast asleep. She had a nasal cannula inserted in her nose and wrapped behind her ears, hooked to a ventilator. He could hear her steady heartbeat echoing through the room.
A nurse was standing by the baby trolley directly beside Olivia's bed. He walked over to the trolley and looked down at his newborn son for the first time. He couldn't help but smile, he'd been preparing for the worst and though he wished it was a normal birth, where he got to coach her through delivery while she screamed at him and told him how much pain she was in, and got the chance to cut the umbilical cord, none of it mattered, he was just happy they were both safe.
"Can I hold my son?" Fitz asked the nurse.
"You mean daughter?" the nurse said.
Fitz mouth dropped open, "really?"
"No, your wife told me to say that to you when she was briefly awake."
Fitz chuckled and took a few steps closer to Olivia and kissed her forehead meanwhile the nurse took the baby from the trolley. Fitz turned around and cradled his arms and waited as the nurse gently placed his son in his arms. He smiled and kissed his forehead.
"Hey little guy, it's been a long day hasn't it."
"Have you given him a name?" the nurse asked.
"No, my wife wants to name him Luca but she changes her mind so frequently that I don't want to start calling him anything and then she changes her mind when she wakes up."
Fitz looked down again, observing his son's features. He had little flecks of short golden brown hair scattered across his head. His eyes were closed but he was still fidgeting so Fitz knew he was awake. The thing that most stood out to Fitz were his fat cheeks and little dimpled chin.
"Does the fact that he was born at 37 weeks affect him, he seems fine?" Fitz turned and asked the doctors.
"No, he was at what we call 'term' which means he could've come at anytime and he would have been perfectly healthy which is why we decided to go ahead which the c-section even after your wife was breathing. He's 8 pounds and 3 ounces, which is large, had he stayed in the womb for another 3 weeks he would've been born at around 9 pounds."
"What happened?"
"When she was up briefly-"
"When was she up?"
"Just before we began performing the c-section, she faded quickly after we put her under anesthesia."
"So she hasn't seen the baby?"
"No."
Fitz nodded, "Okay. so what happened?"
"That's the problem, we don't know. When we spoke briefly she told us she'd had a migraine, based on her medical history, we know she has had problem with severe migraines but in my medical career, I've never seen a migraine severe enough to trigger cardiac arrest and it appears that is what happened here."
"Wow cardiac arrest- what are the chances she could have died from what happened today?"
"Very high, if she had not been given medical attention so quickly I'm afraid she and the child wouldn't have been so lucky," one of the doctors responded.
"What are the chances of this happening again?" Fitz asked.
"We don't know-I can't stress to you how rare this is- that's why he made the decision to perform the cesarean, we couldn't risk another episode with the child still inside her."
"What does that mean- if we don't know when it's going to happen again, how can she go home?"
"She can't, we have to keep her under observation-we can't chance this happening again until we know what's going on, especially if she's home alone and can't call for help."
"NO- I agree 100%, we need to know what we're dealing with here, I've seen a lot of her migraines but it's never been this bad."
"Do you know how often they occur, that can give us a sense of when next to expect one."
"Before she was pregnant she'd have maybe one or two every fortnight, after she got pregnant they completely stopped until today."
"Okay, we're still running tests and we'll also need to speak with her once she wakes up to go over all the symptoms she faced and that will give us a better idea as well."
"When will she wake up?"
"About 2-3 hours."
"Okay."
There was a knock on the door.
"Come in," Fitz called.
Tom opened the door, "Sir, your son is here, should I send him in?"
"Yes, of course."
Tom nodded and stepped aside allowing Gerry to enter.
"We'll give you some time but the baby nurse will stay."
"Of course, no problem, thank you for all your help today."
"You're welcome Mr. President," both doctors said.
The doctors walked out and moments later Gerry walked in.
"Dad?"
"Gerr, come look at your brother."
"He's born? What? Wasn't he suppose to be due at like the end of the month. What the heck?"
"They did an emergency c-section."
Gerry walked over quickly and stopped in front of Fitz and stared down at his baby brother then Olivia then back to his brother.
"Is Olivia okay?"
"Yeah, she is, for now at least, the doctors are monitoring her."
Gerry smiled, "he's so cute dad, I can't believe she gave birth already?"
"I can't believe it either."
"He's fat, can I hold him?"
"Sure, do you know how to?"
"Yeah dad, I held Ella when she was a baby you know."
"Oh yeah right-okay, sit right there let me give him to you."
Gerry sat on the chair against the wall and cradled his arm and waited as Fitz placed his brother into his arms gently.
"He's so fat but small at the same time, he's like a chubby little teddy bear or something."
Fitz chuckled, "yeah, he's pretty big." Fitz turned to the nurse, "how long was Olivia awake?" he needed to know everything that happened, since he wasn't there to witness it.
"For just about 2-3 minutes."
He walked back to Olivia and caressed her cheek.
"I'm sorry, I didn't get your name?"
"Sarah."
"Okay Sarah, what did she say after she was awake? Tell me as much as you can remember."
"At first, she said she was dizzy and asked what we were doing?" Sarah responded.
"What did you respond?"
"Well, the doctor told her she had cardiac arrest and that they were going to perform an emergency c-section."
"Okay, what else?"
"She said that she had a migraine and the she said something else but it wasn't legible but that was when the anaesthetic began to kick in."
"Then?"
"She asked for you and said that you needed to be there when we performed the surgery, we told her that you were in the hall and that we would get you as soon as we knew the fetus was safe and then she said to tell you that it was a girl then she drifted to sleep."
Fitz smiled.
"Dad what's his name, have you decided?" Gerry asked,
"No, you know Olivia was really indecisive about it, I don't want to start calling him a name and then she changes her mind."
Gerry laughed and kissed his brother's forehead.
"He's so cute, he gets it from me," Gerry teased.
"Yeah, he looks just like you when you were born, I remember precisely."
Fitz took Olivia's hand and kissed it.
"Has the baby been fed as yet?" he asked the nurse.
"We wanted to wait so he could be breastfed, that's what your wife requested in her birth plan with her ob/gyn."
"Yeah, she really wants to breastfeed," he paused, "what about my son, did he cry once you took him?"
"He screamed, trust me, he's gonna be a crier."
Fitz walked back over to Gerry and stretched for the baby and Gerry gently placed him back in Fitz's arms. He sat on the chair next to Gerry, rocking his baby boy slowly. He was counting down until Olivia woke up, if the nurse wasn't in the room, he probably would have tried waking her.
They sat quietly, fascinated by the newest addition to their family until there was another knock on the door.
Before Fitz could call, Cyrus opened the door.
"Fitz, why didn't you tell me she gave birth, the doctors told me she was okay they didn't tell me she gave birth?"
"Sorry, I got caught up," Fitz said, still looking down at the little body in his arms.
Cyrus walked in and closed the door behind him.
"How is she?" he asked.
"She should be waking up soon."
"What did you name him?" Cyrus asked.
"I'm waiting until Olivia wakes up."
"Okay well I hate to be the one to bring it up but the press is going crazy, actually everyone is going crazy, they want to know if she's okay?"
"I don't want to release anything until she wakes up."
"Okay but the redhead and her other friends won't stop calling."
"Call Abby and put her on speaker."
Cyrus pulled out his phone and dialed Abby and once it started ring he put the phone on speaker.
"Cyrus, any news?" she asked frantically.
"It's Fitz, I'm just calling to let you know everything is okay, Olivia and the baby are okay, they're resting."
"She gave birth?" Abby yelled.
"They gave her an emergency c-section but she's okay? She should be up in a couple hours."
"Goddammit- this is why I can't be all the way in New York, I get off work in a couple hours I'm gonna jump on a plane or train or whatever and try to get there as fast as I can."
"Abby- you don't have to do that?"
"Are you crazy-I'll be there soon."
Abby hung up.
"It's almost like she's Olivia mother, father, sister and husband all rolled in one," Fitz said, slightly annoyed. He really just wanted alone time with Olivia once she woke up. He wanted it to be him ,Gerry and their new baby once Olivia woke up; not him, Gerry, the baby, Abby, Harrison, Stephen, Elliot and Kamaya, all of whom are going to want to hold the baby and pass him around like a football. He tried not to dwell on it because he'd only get more annoyed and also because he knew it was selfish to want to have them all to himself. Instead he spent his time rocking his son and conversing with Gerry and the nurse, asking her basic questions about childcare.
After a couple hours, the baby was sleeping and he finally convinced himself to step away for a few minutes to make arrangements with Tom to deliver some items for the baby and Olivia since they'd be staying at the hospital for a while. He also instructed that they delivered food even though the nurse said Olivia wouldn't be able to eat for another 6-7 hours, he wanted it to be available to her when she was hungry and could eat.
As he was standing outside, speaking with his chief of staff and Tom, Gerry opened the door.
"Dad, Liv's up," he yelled.
Fitz turned without another word and rushed into the room. He found Olivia sitting against the pillows on her bed, smiling, cradling a newborn baby boy in her hands. The nurse Sarah was standing directly beside her, as if she was ready to take the baby at any moment.
His heart dropped, somehow he felt both extreme happiness and devastating sadness.
"Fitz," she called softly, stretching her hand out towards him.
Fitz took two strides over to her and held unto her hand and kissed it and then leaned down and kissed her sweetly on the lips. He kissed her again and looked down at his newborn son in her arms.
"Isn't he just gorgeous," she said with a smile.
Fitz kissed his forehead and smiled, "we made one good looking kid," he confessed as he teared up.
"Oh Fitz," she reached for him again and kissed him, "I'm fine, we're both fine, you're the one who said you wanted him to come early?"
"I did, didn't I?"
It was always awkward for Gerry to see them like that. He liked that his father was happy but sometime he felt excluded.
"Eww- dad stop the crying."
"I'm not crying, you're crying," Fitz quipped.
Olivia smiled, she was afraid to laugh with her newly stitched abdomen.
Sarah, the nurse, decided to intervene, she had been on the verge of helping Olivia nurse the baby when Fitz entered the room.
"Olivia, we were going to nurse remember, he's been waiting for you."
Olivia smiled, "yes, I'm so excited."
"It's going to be slightly painful."
"It's okay," Olivia replied, "Gerry can you give me a few minutes alone, unless you want to get flashed by your stepmom?"
"No, please no," he stood up, "I'll be outside, I'm gonna buy some stuff from the vending machine and talk with uncle Cy."
Gerry stood up and headed out, closing the door behind him.
"Okay, so Mr. President, we'll need your help, since she had the cesarean, we can't have the baby pressing on her stomach, so we'll need to hold the baby to the side, come over this side, let me show you."
Fitz walked over quickly and watched as the nurse proceeded to instruct him how to help Olivia hold the baby. Once the baby was in position, Fitz helped Olivia untie the strap of her hospital gown and pulled it down revealing her breast. She slowly slipped it in the baby's mouth. It took him a little while to latch on but once he got the hang of it, he held onto it and sucked.
"Our boy is doing good," Fitz complimented as he caressed his head and then he remembered the whole naming issue, "Olivia what's his name?"
She smiled, "Finn."
"Really?"
"No, it's Noah."
"Okay, I like Noah."
"Sorry, I meant Luca."
"Olivia."
"Okay," she said with a smile, "it's Noah."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, I've always been sure."
"Okay-switch him to the other breast," the nurse said.
Fitz helped her undo her other strap and switched Noah to the other breast.
"Ouch," she said softly.
"Does it hurt?" he asked.
"Yeah, a little, the morphine helps though, it's not too bad."
"Pretty soon you'll barely be able to feel it," the nurse added.
Fitz sat by the bed, watching Olivia breastfeed until Noah fell asleep on her chest. The nurse attempted to take him from Olivia and place him in the trolley but Olivia stopped her.
"No, I want him to sleep here."
The nurse hesitated, "okay."
"Actually, can I have a few minutes alone with my husband."
"Uhm, okay, I'll be outside, just call me if you need anything."
"Of course, thank you."
The nurse left the room and closed the door behind her.
"So, how are you?" Olivia asked as she ran her hands up and down Noah's back.
"I'm just happy, so many things could've went wrong but everything went right and I'm grateful but I'm also terrified because what are we going to do the next time it happens, what if you're alone or not close enough to the hospital to get there in time-"
"We'll figure it out together, what happened today was an anomaly."
"I don't think so Olivia, I really don't' think so and you shouldn't treat it as such."
"Look Fitz-"
"-Before you try to tell me it's okay or we'll fix it can you at least tell me what happened?"
"I don't know, as I was standing there I felt pain sort of shoot up my spine and then it stopped for just a few seconds and then my fingertips went numb and I felt dizzy and then I felt the pain in my head and I fell, I remember seeing your face, you were calling my name, I don't remember anything after that until I heard the doctor yelling over me and woke up, I felt hazy, I guess it was from the anesthetic and then I blacked out again."
"How bad was the pain?" he asked.
"It was bad but it was quick."
Fitz ran his index finger down Noah's smooth brown hair.
"I'm scared as shit," he admitted.
"Me too-"
Gerry opened the door interrupting their conversation.
"The nurse said you finished breastfeeding, can I come back."
"Of course-" Olivia wiped her eye and smiled.
Gerry walked in partially, leaving the door open; "dad the food is here and the aides brought the clothes and stuff and also uncle Cy said he released the statement to the press on Olivia."
"Okay, just tell the aides to drop the food and clothes on the sofa over there," Fitz replied.
"Fitz, you know I can't eat right, not for another 5 our so hours."
"I know but it's here for you whenever you can eat."
"Okay, and also you can tell the nurse she can come back," Olivia said.
"Okay, I'll be right back."
"Thanks Gerr," Olivia said..
"Do you want me to take him," Fitz asked.
"No, no, no, I'm going to be selfish, I just want to hold him, you had your turn," she teased.
"Okay, I'll let you live for now, I held him for a few hours while you were sleeping."
"Was he good?"
"Oh yes, he didn't make a sound, he just laid with his eyes closed until he fell asleep, I still haven't seen his eyes and I'm still mad I didn't get to see you give birth."
"Oh please, you have passed out the second you saw them cut into my stomach."
"Yeah, I would've been on the floor."
Olivia smiled, she was careful not to laugh because of her stitches.
"I love you Fitz and I truly want you to know that this will all work out, okay? I don't want you worrying."
"Okay," he said reluctantly.
"Say 'you love me too'."
"I love you too," he said with a smile.
"Kiss me."
Fitz leaned down and kissed her.
"Kiss our baby."
Fitz kissed Noah's head.
"We'll be fine, say it."
"We'll be fine," Fitz repeated.
"Good," Olivia said with a smile.
END.